For outdoor enthusiasts, Lodi is the place
If you enjoy the outdoors then Lodi and its surrounding areas is the perfect destination.
Whether it’s basking in the sun, playing in the water, baiting a hook, sleeping under the stars or even skydiving — Lodi, the Delta and the Mother Lode offers it all.
Lodi’s crown jewel — Lodi Lake — is located off Turner Road. Donated to the city by Louis T. Mason in 1934, the 28-acre lake is fed by the Mokelumne River and is surrounded by the Nature Area and its 58 acres of natural beauty.
Visitors to the Nature Area can expect to find a wide variety of birds, including wintering sparrows, wrens, thrushes, wrentit and migrating songbirds.
Lodi Lake also offers a trail for bikers and runners, a swim area with a popular beach and a nearby kiddie wading pool.
You can also rent kayaks, pedal boats, aqua cycles and canoes and the park features numerous picnic tables.
Guided board tours are led on the Mokelumne River. One can also take canoe and kayak for more personal excursions.
But, if you want to play on a bigger body of water and get away from the feel of a city, venture down Highway 12 to the Delta.
The Delta, which is created by the coming together of the Mokelumne, Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, features 1,000 miles of waterways and is home to some of the best skiing, windsurfing and fishing in the country.
Popular destinations include the Delta Loop and Tower Park — both located off Highway 12.
Fishing is big in the delta with stripers, black bass, blue gill, catfish, sturgeon and salmon being amount the most common varieties. And don’t be too surprised if you happen to catch a glimpse of the occasional wandering sea lion lazily swimming up river. But remember, they are only for looking, not catching.
Seven Mile Slough between Brannan Island State Park and Owl Harbor, Old River in the Tracy area, Middle River west of Stockton, the Thornton area near the junction of Mokelumne and Cosumnes rivers and Lost Slough near Walnut Grove offer quite areas for canoeing and kayaking.
From Rio Vista to Walnut Grove and Clements, visitors will find small towns along the Delta with opportunities to play in the water or go fishing.
Other small towns such as Isleton and Locke maintain their Gold Rush and Chinese immigrant heritages.
Cruises and charter boats are also offered along the Sacramento River near the Capital.
Various campgrounds are also available.
Or, if you’re into extreme sports, take a short drive up Highway 99 to Acampo to the Parachute Center for the opportunity to sky dive.
The Mother Lode also features a multitude of reservoirs. Rustic rolling hills cry out for hikers, fishers and boaters. Hiding under the hills are some of the world’s most elaborate cavern systems.
From Camanche Reservoir and the old gold mining town of Angels Camp to Lake Pardee and New Hogan Lake, the Mother Lode has numerous parks available to outdoor enthusiasts.
The Central Valley’s rivers roll down from the Sierras, resulting in some of Northern California’s better rapids. White water rafting is available in numerous areas.
Before springtime melts the snow in the Sierras, Lake Tahoe and its surrounding areas offer some of the best skiing and snowboarding opportunities in the country.
Or if you enjoy nature areas, a short drive can land you in some of the best locations in the country.
Try the 37,000-acre Cosumnes River Preserve, the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve or the Stones Lake Wildlife Refuge.
Cosumnes offers two public trails — the 1-mile Lost Slough Trial and the 3.3-mile Willow South Trail. Woodbridge offers a crane-viewing area and a viewing shelter in a riparian habitat area. Stones Lake offers wildlife and wetlands viewing areas and well over 100 different species of birds.
So, if you’re looking to enjoy the great outdoors, Lodi and its’ surrounding areas off countless things to do. Get out and try one of them.